Vault door seating and bolting mechanism



Dec. 29, 1959 c. D. GRABER ET AL VAULT DOOR SEATING AND BOLTING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 14, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS Carl D. Grwber 0 Herberl' LZBwdezzell d ATTORNEYS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEYS o g m 7 9 9 3 M 8 m w 9 mm x a 2m x ,9 W. w ww 9 mm A w lk mm w w Q a Dec. 29, 1959 c. D. GRABER ET AL VAULT DOOR SEATING AND BOLTING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 14, 1956 Fig: 7

Dec. 29, 1959 C. D. GRABER ET AL VAULT DOOR SEATING AND BOLTING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 14, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 155 i 4m 0:? I W INVENTORS UwrlD. Gzuker w H ez iberl' LiBwdeneZl '5 ATTORNEYS United States Patent" VAULT DOOR SEATING AND BOLTING MECHANISM Carl D. Graber, Orrville, and Herbert C. Badenel], Navarre, Ohio, assignors to Diebold, Incorporated, Canton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application September 14, 1956, Serial No. 609,968

13 Claims. (Cl. 109-61) Our invention relates to improvements in vault door seating and bolting mechanism and more specifically to a mechanism which is first operable to seat the vault door and by continuing operation thereof subsequently properly bolts the door in locked position.

In the use of some prior vault door constructions, frequently persons closing the door have swung the same to closed position with such force that the engagement of the vault door with the door frame has caused considerable damage to either the door, the door frame or both. It is, therefore, desirable to provide some construction of cushion means on the vault door or vault door frame for preventing the vault door from engaging the door frame with a severe impact when the door is swung shut.

Another source of damage to some prior vault door constructions has resulted from the bolting mechanism of the vault door being extended when the vault door is in open position, so that when the vault door is swung to closed position this bolting mechanism strikes the door frame, causing damage both to the door frame and the bolting mechanism. Further, if the vault door is not completely closed when the bolting mechanism is actuated to engage the door frame for locking the door, there is a possibility of damage to the bolting mechanism itself or to the door frame from such actuation.

It is therefore desirable to provide a door seating mechanism which, upon actuation, will insure that the vault door is properly closed and in a position ready for the bolting mechanism thereof to be actuated to engage the door frame. Also, for purposes of safety, to insure that the door seating mechanism is actuated prior to the bolting mechanism being actuated, and also for the purposes of simplified construction, it is desirable to provide one actuating mechanism for first actuating the door seating mechanism and thereafter, by continued movement, for actuating the bolting mechanism.

Despite the inclusion of a door seating mechanism and an actuating means which first actuates the door seating mechanism and then the bolting mechanism, there is still the above-stated danger of both or one of the door seating and bolting mechanisms being actuated while the vault door is open, thereby causing damage when the door is closed. It is therefore desirable to provide means for automatically preventing actuation of the door seating and bolting mechanisms when the vault door is open and until the vault door is closed to a position where the door seating mechanism can engage the door frame and properly seat the door.

Thus, it is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved vault door seating and bolting mechanism which has all of the above-enumerated desirable features and advantages.

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide an improved vault door seating and bolting mechanism which properly seats the door in closed position in the door frame, so that the door is in a position in which the'bolting mechanism may be safely actuated to engage the door frame and place the door in a locked or bolted. position.

It is a further object of the present invention to pro- See 2 vide an improved vault seating and bolting mechanism WlllCll, wnen actuated, first properly seats thedoor in ciosed position in relation to the door frame and, by. continued actuation, thereafter engages the bolting mechanism with the door frame to place the door in locked position.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide vault door seating and bolting mechanism which includes means which automatically prevents the door seating mechanism from being actuated until the door is moved to a particular selected closed position in which the seating mechanism is in proper position to properly engage the door frame.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved vault door seating and bolting mechanism which includes cushion means for preventing damage to the vault door, door' frame, seating mechanism and bolting mechanism if the door should be swung shut with a great amount of force, which means also positions the door in a proper partially closed position for engagement of the door seating mechanism with the door frame.

Finally, it is an object of the present invention to" 1 provide an improved vault door seating and bolting mechanism which satisfies all of the above objects in a new, relatively simple andadvantageous manner.

These and other objects are accomplished by the parts,

' constructions, arrangements, combinations and subcombinations comprising the present invention, the nature 1 of which is set forth in the following general statement,

a preferred embodiment of which-illustrative of the best mode in which applicants have contemplated applying the principles-is. set' forth in the following de-- scription and illustrated in the accompanying drawings,.;

and which is particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims forming a part hereof. The presentinvention constitutes improvements ona.

vault door construction of the type having a door hingedly connected to a door frame. The door is provided with bolt means preferably including a bolt bar member secured to the'hinge sideof the door and automatically engageable with the door frame when the door is swungto a closed position and a slidable boltbar member at the side'of the door opposite the hinge side mounted for slidable movement to and from door frame engagingvention include, in the foregoing type of vault door construction, cushion means cushioning the swinging move-.

ment of the door toward the door frame and retaining the door in a particular semi-closed position spaced slightly from the door frame. Further, the improvements include door seating'means for swinging the door from said semi-closed position to a fully closed posi-f:

7 tion when this door seating means is actuated.

Still further, the improvements" include control means for moving the door seating means and causing said. door seating means to swing the door from this semi-closed position to fully closed position, said control means upon continued actuation, thereafter also preferably then moving the slidable bolt bar member into locking engagement;v with the door frame; Finally, the improvements include: means automatically engaging with the door seating means and preventing the door seating means from being actuated and consequently preferably also preventing the slidable bolt barmember from being actuated when 3 the door is in an open position and until the door is in said semi-closed position.

By way of example, an embodiment of a vault door construction including the improved vault door seating andbolting mechanism of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals indicate similar parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Fig. l is a front elevation of the vault door construction including the vault door and door frame and showing the vault door in closed and bolted position;

Fig. 2, a fragmentary sectional view, part in elevation looking in the direction of the arrows 2-2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view, part in elevation, looking in the direction of the arrows 33in Fig. I;

Fig. 4, a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the vault door approaching, but spaced from, a semi-closed position in dot-dash lines; and showing the vault door in its semi-closed position ready for the door seating means to be actuated, in full lines;

Fig. 5, a fragmentary sectional view, part in elevation, looking in the direction of the arrows 5-5 in Fig. 4, with the door in the position shown in dot-dash lines in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6, a view similar to Fig. 5 but showing the vault door in its semi-closed position shown in full lines in Fig. 4;

Fig. 7, a fragmentary sectional view, part in elevation, looking in the direction of the arrows 77 in Fig. 3, said view being similar to Figs. 5 and 6 but with the vault door in completely closed and bolted position;

Fig. 8, a fragmentary sectional view, partly in elevation looking in the direction of the arrows 8-8 in Fig. 4;

Fig. 9, a rear elevation, showing the door frame in fragmentary, and the vault door with the rear cover plate thereof partially broken away, and also showing the door seating mechanism and slidable bolt bar member in disengaged position;

Fig. 10, a fragmentary rear elevation taken from Fig. 9 but showing the door seating mechanism and slidable bolt bar member in door frame engaging position;

Fig. 11, a fragmentary sectional view, part in elevation, looking in the direction of the arrows 1111 in Fig. 10;

Fig. 12, a fragmentary sectional view, part in elevation, looking in the direction of the arrows 12-12 in Fig. 10; and

'Fig. 13, a fragmentary sectional view, partly in elevation, looking in the direction of the arrows 13-13 in Fig. 10.

The vault door construction illustrated and having the improvements of the present invention includes a vault door, generally indicated at 20, and a door frame, generally indicated at 21. Door frame 21 is formed of usual construction and has a front vertical surface 22', a rear vertical surface 23 and the usual tapered opening. generally indicated at 24, for the reception of a tapered door slab 25 on vault door 20.

The vault door 20 is also generally of a usual construction and includes bolt means, generally indicated at 26 and best seen in Figs. 2, 3 and 9, improved door seating means, generally indicated at 27 and shown in Fig. 9, improved seating and bolting control means, generally indicated at 28 and shown in Fig. 9, and lock means, generally indicated at 29 and shown in Fig. 9. Door 20 is hingedly connected to the door frame 21 by hinge 30 mounted on the front surface 22 of door frame 21 and preferably mounted recessed at the front surface 31 of door slab 2 5.

The bolt means 26 is mounted on the rear surface 32 of the door slab 25 and preferably includes a stationary bolt bar 33 secured to the door slab 25 at the hinge side thereof in a fixed position, and a laterally slidable or movable bolt bar 34 slidably mounted at the side of door slab 25 opposite from the hinge side thereof. Bolt bars 33, and 34 preferably extend substantially the entireheight ofthe-.dQr ,-a h9 I in .Fia

Stationary bolt bar 33 is mounted on door slab 25 extending partially from the side of slab 25 in the usual manner, so that when door 20 is swung to completely closed position, bolt bar 33 will engage with and behind the rear surface 23 of door frame 2-1, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Further, a usual rear cover plate 35 is mounted on the stationary bolt bar 33 extending across door slab 25 and partially encasing the movable bolt bar 34.

Movable bolt bar 34- is slidably or reciprocally mounted on door slab 25 preferably in a usual manner by a series of guide bars 36 mounted on door slab 25 and received in guide bar recesses 37 formed in bolt bar 34. Thus, bolt bar 34 is laterally slidable toward door frame 21 when door 29 is in a completely closed position, with bolt bar 3 engaging with and behind the rearsurface 23 of door frame 21, as best seen in Fig. 2

The improved door seating means of the presentinvention, generally indicated at '27, is formedin conjunction with the seating and bolting control means, generally indicated at 28 and best shown in Figs. 9, 10, 11 and 13. The seating and bolting control means 28, referring to Fig. 9, includes a pair of similar vertically slidable control bar members 38 and 39 slidably mounted on the rear surface 32 of door slab 25.

Control bar member 38 is movable vertically upwardly for causing the movable bolt bar 34 to engage Withdoor frame 21 while control bar member 39 moves vertically downwardly. Both of control bar members 38 and 39 are mounted on door slab 25 by means of the roller guides mounted on the door slab and vertically extending slots formed in the bar members 38 and 39.

Control bar member 33 is provided with a substantially straight slot 41 formed in the lower portion thereof and engaged by a roller guide 4-1. Further, bar member 38 is provided with cam slot 42 formed in the upper portion thereof and engaged by a roller guide 43.

Cam slot 4-2 includes a substantially straight portion 44, an angled portion 45, angling from the lower end of portion 44 toward the movable bolt bar 34, and an off-set substantially straight portion 46 extending downwardly from the lower end of portion 45, said off-set also being toward bolt bar 34. Movement of the bolt bar 34 is partially controlled by the cam slot 42 and a bolt control bar member 47, which member 47 is operably engaged with cam slots 42 at a point spaced downwardly from roller guide 43 by means of a follower 48.

Bolt control bar member .47 is positioned overlying main control bar member 38 and extending generally horizontally toward bolt bar 34. Bolt control bar member 47 is slidably mounted on door slab 25 by means of a substantially horizontal slot 49 formed at one .end of bar member 47 and a roller guide 50 mounted on door slab 25, with the other end .of bar member 4'7 being secured to bolt bar 34 by means of a generally !..shaped connecting member 51.

Thus, when main control b -member'38 is moved upwardly from the position shown in Fig. 9, it is guided in this vertical movement by slot 40and roller guide 41 as well as straight portion Mot cam slot 42 and roller guide 43. Further, during this vertical movement of bar member 38, follower 48 on bolt control bar member 4'7 will ultimately engage the angled portion 35 and the offset straight portion 26 of cam slot 42, thereby horizontally sliding bolt control bar member 47 in a direction toward bolt bar 34 and consequently sliding bolt bar 34 to engage with the door frame 21, as described above.

Main control bar member 39 is similarly mounted on door slab 25 for vertically downward movement and therefore includes the substantially straight slot 52, roller guide 53, cam slot 54 and roller guide 55. Further, bar member 39 is operably connected. in. a similar manner to a similar bolt control bar member 56, which bar member includes a follower. 5.7:, a slot 53.,engagedby a roller guide 59 and a generally L-shaped connecting member 60 connecting bar member 47 to bolt bar 34.

Thus, movable bolt bar 34 is slid into locking position or engaged with the rear surface of door frame 21 as main control bar member 38 is moved vertically upwardly and bar member 3'9 is moved vertically downwardly. Further, bolt bar 34 is moved out of engagement with door frame 21 when the motion of these main control bar members 38 and 39 is reversed.

It is important to note, however, that followers 48 and 57 on main control bar members 38 and 39, respectively, are positioned with reference to their respective cam slots 42 and 54 so that these followers must first roll in the straight positions of the cam slots for a distance prior to engaging the angle portions thereof, that is, referring to cam slot 42, follower 48 must first roll in straight portion 44 of cam slot 42 for a distance prior to engaging angle portion 45 of this cam slot. Consequently, bolt bar 34 is only moved toward and into engagement with door frame 21 during the latter portion of the vertical travel of control bar members 38 and 39, so that these bar members 38 and 39 move a predetermined vertical distance upwardly and downwardly, respectively, prior to any movement being imparted to bolt member 34.

Door seating means 27 includes a door seating bar 61 which is secured to the upper end of main control bar member 38 and extends upwardly to the door frame 21. Further, a strike bar 62 is mounted on the rear surface 23 of door frame 21 along the top edge of this door frame, with strike bar 62 extending a distance downwardly from door frame 21 to vertically overlap the top edge of door 20.

Still further, the lower edge of strike bar. 62 is bevelled upwardly and rearwardly for a distance in alignment with seating bar 61, providing the bevelled engagement surface 63, as best seen in Figs. 5 through-9. Thus, when door 20 is in a nearly closed position spaced only slightly from its completely closed position with door frame 21, vertically upward movement of door seating bar 61 will engage this seating bar with the engagement surface 63 on strike bar 62, and continued upward movement of bar 61 will draw the door 20 into completely closed position with door frame 21, such positioning being completed when the front surface 64 of seating bar 61 is engaged with the rear surface 65 of strike bar 62, as shown in Fig.7.

Door seating bar 61 is positioned slidable through a vertically extending slot 66 formed in a rearwardly extending portion 67 of door slab 25, said portion extending rearwardly from the normal rear surface 32 of the door slab and being spaced downwardly from the top surface 68 thereof. Further, in its extreme downward position, that is, when main control bar member 38 is in its extreme downward position, the top surface 69 of seating bar 61 is spaced downwardly a slight distance from the lower surface '70 of strike bar 62, so that as door 20 is swung toward a closed position, seating bar 61 willclear the lower surface of strike bar 62.

Thus, when door 20 is in a nearly closed position as main control bar members 38 and 39 are moved upwardly and downwardly, respectively, during the initial portion of their travel, door seating bar 61 will engage and slide up the bevelled engagement surface 63 on strike bar 62.

Further, the cam slots 42 and 54 on main control bar members 38 and 39 are formed such that the front surface 64 of seating bar 61 will engage the rear surface 65 of strike bar 62 prior to these cam slots imparting any motion to bolt bar 34, after which seating bar 61 merely slides along the rear surface 65 of strike bar 62 while bolt bar 34 is being engaged with the door frame 21. This construction thereby insures that door frame 20 is properly seated in door frame 21 prior to bolt bar 34 being moved toward its position to engage door frame 21 since it is impossible to move seating bar 61 and bolt bar 34 in any manner except in this proper sequence...

Vertical movement is imparted to the main control bar members 38 and 39 through gear racks 71 and 72 formed at the lower end of bar member 38 and at the upper end of bar member 39, respectively. As best seen in Fig-. 9y racks 71 and 72 are formed facing each other, with a. common pinion driving gear 73 being positioned between these racks and in engagement therewith.

Pinion gear 73 is mounted on the rear end of a spindle 74, said spindle being journaled in and extending completely through door slab 25, as best seen in Fig. 2.

An operating handle 75 is mounted on the front end of spindle 74 at the frontsurface 31 of door slab 25 so that by selective rotation of handle 75, the main control bar members 38 and 39 may be moved vertically through pinion gear 73 and racks 71 and 72.

The lock means, generally indicated at 29, is of usual construction and includes vertically spaced, manually operated combination locking members 76 and 77 mount:

ed on the rear surface 32 of door slab 25, with the spindles thereof extending forwardly through door slab 25 and the dial members thereof being operably mounted adjacent the front surface of door slab 25, as shown in Fig. 1. Referring to Fig. 9, the bolt members 78 and 79 of lock members 76 and '77, respectively, are pivotally connected to a vertically extending connecting link 80 which overlies the rear surface of main control bar member 39.

A horizontally slidable blocking bar 81 is slidably mounted on the rear surface 32 of door slab 25 by means of a slotted plate 82, as shown. Blocking bar 81 is positioned so that it may be extended horizontally in a direction toward main control bar member 39 and will block the path of vertical travel of bar member 39 when bar member 39 is in its lowermost vertical position, that is, with bolt bar 34 fully engaged with door frame 21.

Connecting link 83 is pivotally connected substantially vertically midway of connecting link 80 and also pivotally connected to blocking bar 81, as shown. Further, pivot link 84 is pivotally connected to blocking bar 81-and also to slotted plate 82, as shown.

Thus, when the bolt members 78 and 79 of the combination lock'members 76 and 77 are extended, blocking bar 81 will be extended to block the path of vertical travel of main control bar member 39, as shown in Fig. 10, thereby locking bolt bar 34 in engagement with door frame 21. Further, since main control bar member 38 is operable through the same pinion gear 73, this will also prevent bar member 38 from moving vertically.

Also, when bolt members 78 and 79 of lock members 76 and 77 are retracted, blocking bar 81 will be retracted and will allow free vertical travel of main control bar members 38 and 39. It is further preferable to provide the usual timelock mechanism 85, as shown.

A reinforcing guide member 86 is mounted on the rear face 32 of door slab 25 for engagement with the main control bar member 38, as shown in Fig. 9, to reinforce this bar member in its vertical travel. The same purpose is served by the slotted plate 82 with reference to main control bar member 39, as shown.

In the foregoing an operable vault door construction has been described. With such a construction, however, there is still the danger of the door 20 engaging the door frame 21 with a force sufiicient to damage either the door, door frame or both.

Also, there is the danger that the door seating bar 61 and the movable bolt bar 34 might be extended prior' ward the door frame 21 without noting the positioning of these members, thereby either causing damage to the.

members or to the doorfrarne. v V W} Thus, it is important to include in the door seating means 27 a cushioning means, generally indicated at 87, for preventing the door 26 from engaging the door frame 21 with a force sufiicient to damage either. Further, it is important to include therein stop or engagement means, generally indicated at 88, for preventing the door seating bar 61 from being extended and consequently also preventing the movable bolt bar 34 from being extended until door 20 is swung to a position in which seating bar 61 can engage the bevelled surface 63 on strike bar 62.

As shown in Fig. 8, cushion means 87 includes a plunger 89 reciprocally mounted extendable from the rear surface 32 of door slab 25 in socket 913 formed above rearwardly extending portion 67. The outer end 91 of plunger 89 is in horizontal alignment with at least a portion of the forward surface 92 of strike bar 62 spaced downwardly from door frame 21.

Plunger 89 is urged to extend from the rear surface 32 of door slab 25 by a compression spring member 93, this spring member being positioned Within socket 9% between the inner end 94 of plunger 89 and the inner or closed end 95 of socket 90. Movement of plunger 89 outward of socket 916 is limited by pin 96 received in door slab 25 extending laterally across socket 9t) and received through an elongated slot 97 formed in plunger 89.

Thus, due to the restriction by pin 96 in slot 97 of plunger 89, this plunger will be urged to extend a predetermined distance from the rear surface 32 of door slab 25 by spring member 93, as shown in Fig. 8, until door 26 is swung to a sufiiciently closed position so that the outer end 91 of plunger 89 engages the rear surface 92 of strike plate 62 on door frame 21. Further, if door 20 is moved toward door frame 21 with sufficient force, plunger 89 will be forced to move into socket 943 against the pressure of spring member 93, thereby forming a spring pressed cushioning member or cushioning means between door 2!} and door frame 21, and preventing any portion of door 26 from striking any portion of door frame 21.

Still further, spring member 93 is suificiently strong so that when the impact caused by the closing of door 26 has been cushioned, spring member 93 will force plunger 89 outwardly until pin 96 reaches the inner end of slot 97, as shown in Fig. 8, thereby properly positioning the door so that door seating bar 61 is in proper position to engage the bevelled engagement surface 63 on strike bar 62, and eventually to engage the rear surface 65 of the strike bar. This places the door 26 into completely closed position, as shown in Fig. 12, with the plunger $9 being forced to telescope completely within socket 9 6, such telescoping being permitted by spring member 93. Thus, when door 20 is completely closed, the outer end 91 of plunger 89 is aligned with the rear surface 32 of door slab 25, as shown.

Referring to Fig. 5, stop or engagement means 88 preferably includes a reciprocal plunger 98 received in a socket 99 in general horizontal alignment with the upper end of door seating bar 61 when this door seating bar is in fully retracted position, as shown in Fig. 5. Socket 99 is preferably in lateral alignment with socket 90 of the cushion means 87, that is, formed in the rear surface 32 of door slab 25 above the rearwardly extending portion 67.

Further, plunger 98 and socket 99 are positioned so that a portion of plunger 98 is in horizontal alignment with the extreme upper end portion of door seating bar 61 and another portion of plunger 98 is in horizontal alignment with the lower end of strike bar 62 on door frame 21 when door 26 is swung to closed position. A notch or cut-out 166 is formed in the top corner of door seating bar 61 nearest the rear surface 32 of door slab 25, and a compression spring member 161, which is received within socket 99 between the inner end 162 8:. of this socket and the inner end 163 of plunger 98, urges the plunger to normally engage and seat in cut-out 139 of seating bar 61.

Further, since a portion of plunger 98 is also in horizontal alignment with the lower end of strike bar 62 on door frame 21, as door 20 is moved to fully closed position, the outer end surface 164 of plunger 98, which extends above the top surface 69 of seating bar 61, will engage the forward surface 92 of strike bar 62. As the closing movement of door 26 is continued, strike bar 22 will cause plunger 98 to telescope a greater distance within socket 99, compressing spring member 101. This movement ultimately disengages the outer end of plunger 98 from the notch in the upper end of a seating bar 61, as shown in Fig. 6.

Thus, until door 24} is swung to a predetermined semiclosed position, plunger 98 engaging in notch 166 of seating bar 61 will prevent this seating bar from being extended. This also will prevent movable bolt bar 34 from being extended since, as before described, seating bar 61 must be extended before the seating and bolting control means, generally indicated at 21" is operable to extend bolt bar 34.

Further, as door 26 is swung to a predetermined semiclosed position, strike bar 62 trips or causes plunger 93 to disengage the seating bar 61, after which seating bar 61 may be extended and thereafter bolt bar 34-. This position of door 26, when plunger 98 is disengaged from seating bar 61, is, however, the position in which seating bar 61 will engage the bevelled surface 63 of strike bar 62, so that seating bar 61, upon being extended, must. draw door 26 into fully closed position or the position in which bolt bar 34 may be safely extended to engage door frame 21.

Still further, an important feature of the invention, as illustrated in Figs. 6 and 8, is that the cushion means 87 and engagement means 88 are arranged in relation to each other so that when spring 93 of the cushion means 87 has finally positioned its plunger 89 so that pin 96 engages the inner end of slot 97, with the outer end 91 of this plunger engaged with the forward surface of strike bar 62, this properly positions door 20 so that strike bar 62 will force plunger 98 of engagement means 88 to compress spring member 161 and disengage notch 16% of seating bar 61.

With respect to the relative forces that the cushion means spring 93 and the engagement means spring 161 are capable of exerting due to their inherent resilience, it is obvious, for cushion means 87 and engagement means 83 to function as described and shown, that spring 93 must be strong enough to move the vault door until the plunger 39 is in its fully extended position, whereas the spring 161 must not have sufficient force to move the vault door. For this reason when the cushion means spring 93 has moved the vault door until the plunger 89 is in its fully extended position and the vault door is stationary in this position, the engagement means spring 101 will not be strong enough to move the vault door from this stationary position, so that the plunger 98 will be telescoped within socket 99 and free from the notch 100 in the upper end of the seating bar 61.

Thus, cushion means 87 is arranged to properly position door 20 so that engagement means 88 releases seating bar 61, but so that when released, seating bar 61 is in proper position to engage the bevelled surface 63 on strike bar 62 when this seating bar is extended. When, however, door 20 is not in this particular predetermined semi-closed position, seating bar 61 and the movable bolt bar 34 are positively prevented from being extended by engagement means 38.

Thus, in operation and use of the vault door construction incorporating the improvements of the present in vention, when the door 26 is in completely open position, both the stationary bolt bar 33 and movable bolt bar 34 are. disengaged from door frame 21. Further,

9 movable bolt bar 34 is in fully retracted position, as shown in Fig. 9.

Still further, door seating bar 61 is in fully retracted position with plunger 98 engaged in notch 100 in the seating bar, as shown in Fig. 5. Thus, handle 75 cannot be rotated to extend the door seating bar 61 and bolt'bar 34 due to this restriction of bar 61.

As door 20 is swung toward door frame 21 and approaches the door frame, the plunger 89 of cushion means 87 will engage strike bar 62, preventing door 20 from striking door frame 21 with this swinging force. Further, due to the above-described arrangement of cushion means 87, the door 20 will be positioned in a predetermined semi-closed position in which seating bar 61 and thereafter bolt bar 34 may be extended, such positioning being illustrated in Figs. 6 and 8.

Thereafter, handle 75 may be rotated, rotating pinion gear 73 which, through racks 71 and 72, moves main control bar members 38 and 39 upwardly and downwardly, respectively. During the initial portion of the vertical travel of bar members 38 and 39, door seating bar 61 is moved upwardly to engage the bevelled surface 63 on strike bar 62 while bolt bar 34 remains stationary.

As seating bar 61 moves upthe tapered surface 63 and finally engages the rear surface 65 of strike bar 62, door 20 is drawn into fully closed position. This fully engages stationary bolt bar 33 with door frame 21, as shown in Fig. 3.

Further, this forces plungers 89 and 98 to telescope within their respective sockets 90 and 99 so that the outer end surfaces 91 and 104 thereof are in alignment with the rear surface 32 of door slab 25, as shown respectively in Figs. 7 and 12. Finally, continued vertical movement of control bar members 38 and 39 by rotating handle 75 causes cam slots 42 and 54 to move rollers 48 and 57 horizontally, thereby moving the bolt control bar members 47 and 56 horizontally to extend movable bolt bar 34 and cause this bolt bar to engage the door frame 21, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 13.

Thereafter, bolt members 78 and 79 of combination lock members 76 and 77 may be extended, causing locking bar 81 to extend and prevent vertically upward movement of main control bar member 39, thereby securely locking door in door frame 21. Further, timelock 85 may be set to engage movable bolt bar 34 so that door 20 cannot be released until a predetermined time.

Opening door 20 is merely a reversal of the above procedure, so that once combination locks 76 and 77 are unlocked, the handle 75 may be rotated to first retract movable bolt bar 34 and then retract door seating bar 61. As soon as door 20 is opened, however, the engagement means 88 will automatically prevent door seating bar 61 from being extended until the door is again placed in its proper semi-closed position.

Thus, according to the principles of the present invention, an improved vault door seating and bolting mechanism is provided which properly seats the door in closed position in the door frame, so that the door is in a position that the bolting mechanism may be safely actuated to engage the door frame and place the door in a locked position; which, when actuated, first properly seats the door in closed position in relation to the door frame and, by continued actuation, thereafter engages the bolting mechanism with the door frame to place the door in a locked position; which includes means automatically preventing the door seating mechanism from being actuated until the door is moved to a particular semi-closed position in which the door seating mechanism is in position to properly engage the door frame to seat the door; which includes cushion means for preventing damage to the vault door, door frame, seating mechanism and bolting mechanism if the door should be swung shut with a great amount of force, and which means also positions the door in a proper partially closed position for engagement of the doorsegating mechanism with'the door frame; and which.

10 provides all of the above advantageous features in a new, relatively simple manner.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness and understanding, but no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom, because such words are used for descriptive purposes herein, and are intended to be broadly construed.

Moreover, the embodiment of the improved construction illustrated and described herein is by way of example, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the exact details of the construction shown.

Having now described the invention, the construction, operation and use of a preferred embodiment thereof, and the advantageous new and useful results obtained thereby; the new and useful construction and reasonable mechanical equivalents thereof obvious to those skilled in the art are set forth in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In vault door construction, a vault door, a door frame, "hinge means between the door and door frame for swinging the door between opened and closed positions, door seating mechanism including a bar reciprocally mounted on one of the door and door frame movable between engaged and disengaged positions for the door is in closed position for locking the door in said closed position, lock means mounted in position for selectively locking the bolt means reciprocal member in engaged position, selectively operable actuating means mounted on said one of the door and door frame operably connected to the door seating mechanism bar and bolt means reciprocal member, said actuating means including first means operably connected to the bar and operable when the actuating means is operated for first moving the bar to engaged position when the door is in closed position to properly seat the door in the door frame, said actuating means also including second means operably connected to the reciprocal member and operable upon continued sequential operation of the actuating means and only after the first means has moved the bar into engaged position for moving the bolt means reciprocal member to engaged position, movable stop means mounted on said one of the door and door frame and operably connected with the bar when the bar is in disengaged position automatically operable to latch the bar from moving to engaged position when the door is in open position, and trip means mounted in position to actuate the stop means when the door is swung into closed position for automatically actuating the stop means to unlatch the bar for movement of the bar to engaged position.

2. Vault door construction as defined in claim 1 in which the door seating mechanism bar has a notch formed therein; in which the stop means includes a spring-pressed plunger normally urged to engage the bar notch for latching the bar from moving to engaged position when the door is in open position; in which the trip means includes a strike member engageable with' the spring-pressed plunger when the door is swung to closed position to disengage the plunger from the bar notch; and in which the maximum force which the stop means spring-pressed plunger is capable of exerting is less than the force required to move the door toward open position when the door is in closed position.

3. Vault door construction as defined in claim 1 in which the actuating means includes vertically movable members; in which the door seating mechanism bar is attached to one of said actuating means movable members for vertical movement therewith; in which vertical movement of the door seating mechanism. bar moves.

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said bar to engaged position and properly seats the door in the door frame; in which the bolt means reciprocal member is connected to said actuating means movable members by cam means operable by the vertically movable members upon continued vertical movement thereof after the door seating mechanism bar has been moved to engaged position; and in which operation of the cam means moves the bolt means reciprocal member to engaged position.

4. Vault door construction as defined in claim 1 in which the door seating mechanism bar has a notch formed therein; in which the stop means includes a spring-pressed plunger normally urged to engage the bar notch for latching the bar from moving into engaged position when the door is in open position; in which the trip means includes a strike member engageable with the spring-pressed plunger when the door is swung to closed position to disengage the plunger from the bar notch; in which the actuating means includes vertically movable members; in which the door seating mechanism bar is attached to one of said actuating means movable members for vertical movement therewith; in which vertical movement of the door seating mechanism bar moves said bar to engaged position and properly seats the door in the door frame; in which the bolt means reciprocal member is connected to said actuating means movable members by cam means operable by the vertically mov able members upon continued vertical movement thereof after the door seating mechanism bar has been moved to engaged position; and in which operation of the cam means moves the bolt means reciprocal member to engaged position.

5. In vault door construction, a vault door, a door frame, hinge means between the door and door frame for swinging the door between open and closed positions, bolt means including a movable member mounted on one of the door and door frame engageable between the door and door frame when the door is in fully closed position for locking the door in said fully closed position, means operably connected to the bolt means for actuating the bolt means movable member to disengaged and engaged positions, lock means mounted in position for selectively locking the bolt means movable member in engaged position, resilient cushion means operably connected to one of the door and door frame operable when the door approaches closed position for automatically resiliently stopping swinging motion of the door toward closed position and positioning the door at a selected partially closed position with the door spaced a selected distance from the door frame, door seating mechanism including a bar reciprocally mounted on one of the door and door frame movable between engaged and disengaged positions for engagement between the door and door frame when the door is swung to said selected partially closed position to move the door from said selected partially closed position to fully closed position and properly fully seat the door in the door frame, the resiliency of the cushion means being overcome by the bar during movement of the door by said bar, bar actuating means operably connected to the bar for selectively moving the bar to disengaged and engaged positions, movable stop means mounted on said one of the door and door frame mounting the bar and operably connected with the bar when the bar is in disengaged position automatically operable to latch the bar from moving to engaged position when the door is in an open position open a greater extent than said selected partially closed position, and trip means mounted in position to actuate the stop means when the door is positioned at said selected partially closed position for automatically actuating the stop means to unlatch the bar for movement of the bar to engaged position to draw the door to fully closed position.

6. Vault door construction as defined in claim 5 in which the resilient cushion means includes a springpressed plunger; in which said cushion means sprin pressed plunger resiliently stops the swinging motion of the door toward closed position when the door approaches said closed position and urges the door toward said selected partially closed position to thereby position the door at said partially closed position; in which the door seating mechanism bar has a notch formed therein; in which the stop means includes a spring-pressed plunger normally urged to engage the bar notch for latching the bar from moving to engaged position when the door is in open position; in which the stop means includes a strike member positioned engageable with the springressed plunger when the door is swung to said partially closed position to disengage the plunger from the bar notch; and in which the maximum force which the stop means spring-pressed plunger is capable of exerting is less than the force required to move the door toward open position when the door is in said selected partially closed position.

7. Vault door construction as defined in claim 6. in which the strike member includes a bevelled surface portion engageable by the door seating mechanism bar when said bar is moved toward engaged position for drawing the door toward the door frame and properly seating the door in the door frame.

8. In a vault door construction, a vault door, a door frame, hinge means between the door and door frame for swinging the door between open and closed positions, bolt means including a reciprocal member mounted on one of the door and door frame movable between a disengaged position and an engaged position engaged be-v tween the door and door frame when the door is in fully closed position for locking the door in said fully closed position, lock means mounted in position for selectively locking the bolt means reciprocal member in engaged position, resilient cushion means operably connected to one of the door and door frame operable when the door approaches closed position for automatically resiliently stopping swinging motion of the door toward closed position and positioning the door at a selected partially closed position with the door spaced a selected distance from the door frame, door seating mechanism including a bar reciprocally mounted on said one of the door and door frame mounting the bolt means member movable between engaged and disengaged positions for engage ment between the door and door frame when the door is swung into said selected partially closed position, said door seating mechanism bar having means formed thereon for moving the door from said selected partially closed position to fully closed position upon continued movement of said bar after initial engagemnet between the door and door frame to properly fully seat the door in the door frame, the resiliency of the cushion means being overcome by the bar during movement of the door by said bar, selectively operable actuating means mounted on said one of the door and door frame mounting the bolt means member operably connected to the door seating mechanism bar and bolt means reciprocal member, said actuating means including first means operably connected to the bar and operable when the actuating means is operated for first moving the bar to engaged position when the door is in said selected partially closed position to draw the door to fully closed position and properly seat the door in the door frame, said actuating means also including second means operably connected to the reciprocal member and operable upon continued sequential operation of the actuating means and only.

after the first means has moved the bar into engaged position for moving the bolt means reciprocal member to engaged position, movable stop means mounted on said one of the door and door frame mounting the bolt means member and operably connected with the bar when the bar is in disengaged position automatically'operable to latch the bar from moving to engaged position when the door is in an open position open a. greater;

extent than said selected partially closed position, and trip means mounted in position to actuate the stop means when the door is positioned at said selected partially closed position for automatically actuating the stop means to unlatch the bar for movement of the bar to engaged position to draw the door to fully closed position.

9. Vault door construction as defined in claim 8 in which the resilient cushion means includes a springpressed plunger; in which said cushion means springpressed plunger resiliently stops the swinging motion of the door toward closed position when the door approaches said closed position and urges the door toward said selected partially closed position to thereby position the door in said partially closed position; in which the doorseating mechanism bar has a notch formed therein; in which the stop means includes a spring-pressed plunger normally urged to engage the bar notch for latching the bar from moving to any engaged position when the door is in an open position open a greater extent than said selected partially closed position; in which the stop means includes a strike member engageable with the springpressed plunger when the door is swung to said partially closed position to disengage the plunger from the bar notch; and in which the maximum force which the stop means spring-pressed plunger is capable of exerting is less than the force required to move the door toward open position when the door is in said selected partially closed position.

10. Vault door construction as defined in claim 8 in which the actuating means includes vertically movable members; in which the door seating mechanism bar is attached to one of said actuating means movable members for vertical movement therewith; in which vertical movement of the door seat mechanism bar moves said bar to engaged position and properly seats the door in the door frame; in which the bolt means reciprocal member is connected to said actuating means movable members by cam means operable by the vertically movable members upon continued vertical movement thereof after the door seating mechanism bar has been moved to engaged position; and in which operation of the cam means moves the bolt means reciprocal member to engaged position.

11. Vault door construction as defined in claim 9 in which the strike member includes a bevelled surface portion engageable by the door seating mechanism bar when said bar is moved toward engaged position for drawing the door toward the door frame and properly seating the door in the door frame; in which the actuating means includes vertically movable members; in which the door seating mechanism bar is attached to one of said actuatmg means movable members for vertical movement therewith; in which vertical movement of the door seatmg mechanism bar moves said bar to engaged position and properly seats the door in the door frame; in which the bolt means reciprocal member is connected to said actuating means movable members by cam means operable by the vertically movable members upon continued vertical movement thereof after the door seating mechanl sm bar has been moved to engaged position; and in which operation of the cam means moves the bolt means reciprocal member to engaged position.

12. In a vault door construction, a vault door, a door frame, hinge means between the door and door frame for swinging the door between open and closed positions, bolt means including a reciprocal member mounted on the door movable between a disengaged position and an engaged position engaged between the door and door frame when the door is in fully closed position for locking the door in said fully closed position, lock means mounted on the door in position for selectively locking the bolt means reciprocal member in engaged position, resilient cushion means operably connected to one of the door and door frame operable when the door approaches closed position for automatically resilientlystopping swinging motion of the door toward closed position and positioning the door at a selected partially closed position with the door spaced a selected distance from the door frame, door seating mechanism including a bar reciprocally mounted on the door movable between engaged and disengaged positions for engagement between the door and door frame when the door is swung to said selected partially closed position, a strike member mounted on the door frame and having a bevelled surface portion in position for engagement by the door seating mechanism bar when the door is in said selected partially closed position and the bar is moved toward engaged position for drawing the door toward the door frame and properly fully seating the door in the door frame, the resiliency of the cushion means being overcome by the bar during movement of the door by said bar, selectively operable actuating means mounted on the door operably connected to the door seating mechanism bar and bolt means reciprocal member, said actuating means including first means operably connected to the bar and operable when the actuating means is operated for first moving the bar to engaged position when the door is in said selected partially closed position to properly fully seat the door frame, said actuating means also including second meansoperably connected to the reciprocal member and operable upon continued sequential operation of the actuating means and only after the first means has moved the bar into engaged position for moving the bolt means reciprocal member to engaged position, the door seating mechanism bar having a notch formed therein, movable stop means mounted on the door including a spring-pressed plunger normally urged to engage the bar notch for latching the bar from moving to any engaged position when the door is in an open position open a greater extent than said selected partially closed position, the strike member being positioned engageable with the stop means spring-pressed plunger when the door is swung to said partially closed position to disengage the plunger from the bar notch for movement of said bar to engaged position to draw the door to fully closed position, and the maximum force which the stop means spring-pressed plunger is capable of exerting being less than the force required to move the door toward open position when the door is in said selected partially closed position.

' 13. Vault door construction as defined in claim 12 in which the actuating means includes vertically movable members; in which the'door seating mechanism bar is attached to one of said actuating means movable members for vertical movement therewith; in which vertical movement of the door seating mechanism bar moves said bar to engaged position and properly seats the door in the door frame; in which the bolt means reciprocal member is connected to said actuating means movable members by cam means operable by the vertically movable members upon continued vertical movement thereof after the door seating mechanism bar has been moved to engaged position; and in which operation of the cam means moves the bolt means reciprocal member to engaged position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 354,681 Brintnall Dec. 21, 1886 522,103 Burton June 26, 1894 615,034 Merrill Nov. 29, 1898 938,545 Bartcls Nov. 2, 1909 1,132,089 Haustetter Mar. 16, 1915 1,367,855 Bolles Feb. 8, 1921 1,996,865 Haag Apr. 9, 1935 2,729,089 Pelcin Jan. 3, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 834,857 Germany Mar. 24, 1952 

